A Wyoming woman has gained national attention for her efforts to help families find affordable health insurance. Cynthia Nunley has worked for more than a decade with Enroll Wyoming, a nonprofit organization that provides free assistance to people exploring health coverage options. She is one of 10 people in the country highlighted as role models for health insurance assistance.
“We are on the front lines helping consumers who often have nowhere else to turn,” Nunley said.
She received the award from Beyond the Basics, a nonprofit policy organization whose work focuses on better understanding Medicaid, the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and marketplace health coverage. It honoured 10 recipients as part of its celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
Nunley is based in Casper, but has travelled the state as a navigator, answering questions to help families make informed decisions. At one point, Nunley was the only navigator serving Wyoming, noted fellow navigator Festi Edwards, who nominated her for the award.
“Cynthia Nunley has been a beacon of hope since the beginning of the Affordable Care Act and is still going strong, saving lives 10 years later,” Edwards wrote. “She works selflessly, tirelessly and with great passion to find, educate and assist consumers, always going the extra mile to help.”
Nunley tailors her work to an individual’s needs or priorities. This can include enrolling people in the Health Insurance Marketplace, which is designed to make coverage more accessible and affordable. Nunley is quick to praise the impact of the Health Insurance Marketplace. She said the very first person enrolled through the Enroll Wyoming subsidy needed life-saving surgery and was able to get it after qualifying for a health plan with cost-sharing reductions. Without the surgery, the woman’s doctor predicted she would have died within months.
The marketplace open enrollment period is approaching. This window, from 1 November to 15 January, is when most people sign up for or renew health insurance. After that, they have to meet specific criteria to get health insurance.
When asked to share her experience with the Beyond the Basics audience, Nunley said she may not always be able to get people health insurance, but the support she provides should give consumers enough knowledge and empowerment to change their lives.
In addition to her accolades as an assister, Nunley is a retired teacher, plays in the Casper Municipal Band, and is an organiser/board member for the state’s annual Native American Education Conference.
